Things to Consider Before You Buy Natural Stone Slab for Your GTA Kitchen

Buying
Natural Stone Slab for Your GTA Kitchen?

The kitchen is the most important room in the
house, used daily by all family members as a place to share a meal, snack, or
just enjoy each other's company; therefore, it is important to ensure you are
making the right choices when it comes to renovating and redesigning the
kitchen in your Toronto home, so you can have a kitchen rich with memories.

Choosing
your Stone Countertops

The beauty of natural stone countertops lies in
its aesthetic. Before choosing your colour and pattern, it is important to
determine what style of kitchen you are going for. Perhaps you want a more
classic look with darker colours to match rich wooden cabinets, or maybe you
want a light modern shade that will go well with stainless steel. With so many
options, it can be difficult to choose. We recommend creating a pinboard on Pinterest or use Houzz to
keep track of your favourite looks and styles. This is not only great as a
reference point for you, it also helps you realize your personal tastes. Natural
stones come in a variety of different finishes, like flamed, honed, sand-blasted,
bush-hammered, and more. Finding your preference and matching it to your
kitchen can make all the difference between having a kitchen you like and having
a kitchen you love. Beyond that, you need to set yourself a budget; not all
granite costs the same. Granite varies in price depending on colour, patterns,
size, thickness, origin, etc.

Common
Mistakes to Avoid

Make sure you know the thickness you require
before choosing your slabs. Often, slabs like granite are sold in two sizes, ¾”
and 1 ¼”. Some companies try to sell 1 ½” slabs which are usually two ¾” pieces
glued together, a practice that can later lead to some serious maintenance
issues. As time moves on, the glue is prone to separation and deterioration, leaving
a gap between the slabs that can’t be covered up. It is best to buy granite
with a higher density; that means fewer pores and ultimately the increased
longevity of your stone countertop. High-density stones will have two things:
consistent coloring and less veining. Sadly, this means those exotic slabs and
tiles coveted for their veining are actually low in density and therefore trickier
to maintain. Another useful tip is that darker coloured granites are easier to
care for than their lighter counterparts.

Seamless
Installation

When you have chosen the type of stone you want
installed, make sure you hire an experienced fabricator who knows the ins and
outs of proper stone installation and cutting. Stone countertops are an
investment, and the last thing you want to do is skimp out on the installation.
It takes experience and artistry to install the stones as seamlessly as
possible. Not only do seamless counters
look beautiful, but the tighter seal also means water won't get inside. Try to match
the edges of your countertop to the edges of your cabinets for a more polished
look. If your cabinets are
modern, try to get flat or bevelled edge styles; but if they’re classic, opt
for ogee or bull-nose edges for a harmonious kitchen.

Now that you’ve got your bases covered, picking and
buying your natural stone slab should come effortlessly when following through
with your GTA home renovation plans!